June 9, 2026 — 7:30pm
Oakland: Jackson Irvine is a self-declared “massive fan” of Socceroos teammate Nestory Irankunda, in just about every way. The only thing about him that Irvine can’t quite embrace, however, is his obsession with Michael Jackson .
As the team’s resident musical connoisseur and moral compass, Irvine watched on with bemusement from Germany when Irankunda scored against Curacao earlier this year, had a pre-planted sequinned glove thrown to him by a photographer near the corner flag, and rolled out one of Jackson’s trademark dance moves in front of the cameras as his goal celebration.
“It’s a weird generational thing. It’s a huge part of Michael Jackson that just seems to not have happened any more,” Irvine laughed.
“The guy made some bangers, for sure. Would I want to be openly celebrating him? Probably not. I think I’m maybe showing my age there a little bit. But every time I hear Michael Jackson come on in the dressing room, I just think ... did I dream all that?”
Everything else about Irankunda, Irvine can get on board with. As a character, he loves him. As a player, he does things with the ball that Irvine says he’s never seen before. He’s in awe of his sheer pace and power.
“The talent is obscene,” he says.
Nestory Irankunda throws on a silver glove and performs a Michael Jackson dance after scoring against Curacao. FIFA via Getty Images Irankunda, 20, is Australia’s most dynamic attacking player. But is he ready to start at the World Cup? And is that even the best thing for the Socceroos?
These are questions head coach Tony Popovic and his staff are chewing over ahead of Sunday’s (2pm AEST) opener against Turkey in Vancouver.
They have their doubts – and they are shared by Irvine.
The concern is that, for a game which will require immense tactical discipline and emotional control, Irankunda might not be the best fit to start. His decision to kick the ball into Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka’s private parts while he was lying stomach-down on the ground earned him a yellow card, and sparked an all-in scuffle between the teams – no hanging offence, but the sort of incident the Socceroos would rather not have happened during a proper World Cup match.
Irankunda is not a liability in these areas. In fact, his teammates and coaches all say he is improving, and his defensive workrate was a standout aspect of his performance against the Swiss. He won possession seven times in the 1-1 draw, more than double his best previous effort for the Socceroos. But there are perhaps other players who are better options for a specific situation like this.
“Playing for Australia at the World Cup and against the top nations in the world, the first thing you’ve got to do is be able to defend and run and do it for 90 minutes. And it’s hard. It’s really, really hard,” Irvine said.
“It’s non-negotiable in this team, and he’s finding it, and he’s learning it all the time. You’ve got to bring it, and it’s got to be every day. When that gets better and better, which it will, we’ll see him on the pitch for longer and longer, and he’ll get the chance to show everyone that talent more and more.”
Leaving him on the bench enables them to bring him on in the second half, at a juncture when the game becomes stretched and defensive focus is not quite as sharp, so he can unleash his rare capabilities against tiring legs.
Nestory Irankunda with Australia’s coach Tony Popovic. AP That would be perfect for what appears to be Australia’s game plan: keeping it tight at the back, giving away nothing and hanging in there until legs begin to tire and the game opens up in the second half, and then striking. The introduction of Irankunda in those circumstances also has psychological benefits; no team would enjoy the sight of seeing him get ready to come on late in a tight game.
Here’s the flip side. Every minute Irankunda is not on the pitch feels, in a way, like a minute wasted for the Socceroos.
He has a singular ability to produce a moment of brilliance from nowhere, like the long-distance shot against Switzerland that forced their goalkeeper to tip it onto the crossbar, or the many spectacular strikes he has pulled off for Watford and Adelaide United.
Whenever he is involved, it feels like Australia still has a chance, which is an aura no Socceroo has possessed, arguably, since Tim Cahill.
Nestory Irankunda of Australia competes for the ball against Remo Freuler of Switzerland. Getty Images “Nestor always thinks he’s the best player on the pitch, every time he plays,” teammate Mohamed Toure said. “To be the best, you have to feel like you’re the best, and that’s something he does very well.“
Is it not simply logical that a player of this calibre should be considered an automatic starter? For Popovic, it is not that easy. It never is.
“It’s a view of trying to win the game of football. It’s winning the game and what is best for that match,” he said.
“Do I love Nestory Irankunda or Mo Toure and [Cristian] Volpato and the t…
Read the full article at The Sydney Morning Herald →📄Source document: Nestory Irankunda with father Gideon Rurandagaye at Hindmarsh Stadium in 2023→11 reports
ABC News (Australia)State / PublicCenter6 days agoThe family and community of Nestory Irankunda expressed deep emotion following his World Cup debut, where he scored the opening goal for Australia against Türkiye. Irankunda, a 20-year-old from Adelaide, became the youngest Socceroos player to score in the tournament. His family shared their pride and joy, noting the emotional impact of watching him achieve this milestone.
Bias read (Center): The article focuses on a sports achievement and personal emotions surrounding it, without any political commentary, framing, or bias. The content is purely celebratory and factual, centered on the athlete's performance and family reactions.
The AgeParty-alignedCenter7 days agoNestory Irankunda's father spoke to 9News Adelaide following the Socceroos' victory against Turkey in the World Cup.
Bias read (Center): The article covers a sports event with no political implications. The content focuses on a player's family reaction to a sporting achievement, which is inherently non-political.
The Sydney Morning HeraldParty-alignedCenter7 days agoNestory Irankunda's father spoke to 9News Adelaide following the Socceroos' victory against Turkey in the World Cup.
Bias read (Center): The article covers a sports event with no political implications. The content focuses on a player's family reaction to a sporting achievement, which is inherently non-political.
The AgeParty-alignedCenter7 days ago Irankunda explains his Cahill tributeSocceroos player Nestory Irankunda discusses the significance of his World Cup goal as a tribute to former Socceroos star Tim Cahill.
Bias read (Center): The article focuses on a sports-related event without any political commentary or framing. It simply reports on a player's explanation of his actions during a match.
The Sydney Morning HeraldParty-alignedCenter7 days ago Irankunda explains his Cahill tributeSocceroos player Nestory Irankunda discusses his tribute to former Socceroos star Tim Cahill through an impressive goal scored during the World Cup.
Bias read (Center): The article focuses on a sports-related event without any political commentary or framing. It simply reports on a player's explanation of his tribute to another athlete, which is inherently neutral in terms of political bias.
ABC News (Australia)State / PublicCenter7 days ago Socceroos boast heavy Adelaide connection, as SA fans show supportThousands of South Australian soccer fans gathered in Adelaide to watch the Socceroos' match against Türkiye, where Nestory Irankunda scored the opening goal.
Bias read (Center): The article covers a sports event with no political content or framing. It focuses on fan support and a player's performance without any ideological emphasis.
ABC News (Australia)State / PublicCenter7 days ago Socceroos ecstasy as wondergoals deliver 2-0 World Cup victory over TürkiyeThe Socceroos defeated Türkiye 2-0 in their opening World Cup group match with goals from Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a sports match without any political commentary, framing, or bias. The focus is purely on the sporting outcome and performance.
SBS NewsState / PublicCenter7 days agoAustralia's Nestory Irankunda scored a crucial goal in a 2-0 victory over Türkiye, marking a historic win. Irankunda, Australia's youngest-ever World Cup goal scorer, expressed gratitude towards his team and supporters, crediting their belief in him. He chose to celebrate with a corner flag punch instead of his usual backflip, honoring his football idol Tim Cahill. Irankunda was named player of the match.
Bias read (Center): The article focuses on a sports event with no political implications. It provides factual information about the game, player quotes, and celebrations without any biased language or framing.
The Sydney Morning HeraldParty-alignedCenter12 days ago He’s the Socceroos’ X-factor. But there’s one thing about Irankunda his teammates can’t copJackson Irvine, a member of the Australian national soccer team (Socceroos), discusses his mixed feelings about teammate Nestory Irankunda's admiration for Michael Jackson. While he respects Irankunda's footballing abilities, Irvine finds it difficult to accept his celebration of Michael Jackson's legacy, which he views as outdated. Irankunda performed a Michael Jackson-inspired dance after scoring a goal against Curacao.
Bias read (Center): The article focuses on a sports-related anecdote involving player behavior and personal preferences. There is no political framing, ideological emphasis, or biased language. The content remains neutral and descriptive of events without taking a stance.
The AgeParty-alignedCenter12 days ago He’s the Socceroos’ X-factor. But there’s one thing about Irankunda his teammates can’t copJackson Irvine, a member of the Australian national soccer team (Socceroos), discusses his mixed feelings about teammate Nestory Irankunda's admiration for Michael Jackson. While he respects Irankunda's footballing abilities, Irvine finds it difficult to accept his celebration of Michael Jackson's legacy, which he views as outdated. Irankunda performed a Michael Jackson-inspired dance after scoring a goal against Curacao.
Bias read (Center): The article focuses on a sports-related anecdote involving player behavior and personal preferences. There is no political framing, bias, or controversy present. The content remains neutral and descriptive without taking a stance on any political issue.
ABC News (Australia)State / PublicCenter14 days ago Australia turns its attention to FIFA World Cup after practice gamesAustralia played a 1-1 draw with Switzerland in their final pre-World Cup match, providing insight into the team's readiness for the tournament. Key players like Nestory Irankuda and debutants Tete Yengi and Cristian Volpato performed notably, though challenges were also evident.
Bias read (Center): The article provides a balanced overview of Australia's football team performance without taking a political stance or showing bias toward any particular ideology. It focuses purely on sports analysis and player performance.
Official sources cited
- press release Getty Images: Orlando Ramirez
- press release Getty Images: Mike Nowak
Australia